Visitors check out the Freelander SUV brand at its launch at the Museum of Art Pudong in Shanghai on March 31. LI FUSHENG/CHINA DAILY
Automakers are increasingly turning to China to revive legacy brands and accelerate their transition to electrification, marking a structural shift in the global auto industry.
The trend has been highlighted by recent developments involving Jaguar Land Rover's Freelander revival through its collaboration with Chery, and Stellantis' expanded partnership with Dongfeng Motor to jointly produce new Peugeot and Jeep models in China for both domestic sales and global export.
Taken together, the projects suggest that China is evolving from a key sales market into a core development and production base for global automotive brands navigating the electric transition.
Jaguar Land Rover's Freelander project is widely seen as an early example of this shift. The model, once a mainstream SUV nameplate within the Land Rover portfolio, was upgraded into a brand through a partnership with Chery in March.
